AKB48 will release their 48th single “Negaigoto no Mochigusare” on May 31, 2017. This single will be a W-center by ‘next generation’ members Jurina Matsui (SKE48) and Miyawaki Sakura (HKT48 & AKB48). The titular track will feature 35 members from the 48Group and the single will include a song by the newly formed STU48 as a B-side. Along with serving as the theme song of the NHK All-Japan School Choir Competition, the single will also contain the voting tickets for the 49th single senbatsu sousenkyo. This year, the sousenkyo will take place on June 17, 2017 at Toyosaki Seaside Park, Toyosaki Villa SUN Beach in Okinawa.

The members can submit their candidacy for the election from Saturday March 25, 2017 (11:00 JST) to Friday March 31, 2017 (24:00 JST). The voting period will take place from Tuesday May 30, 2017 (10:00 JST) to Friday June 16, 2017. The ranking system will be the same as recent years:

While not following AKB48 the way I used to, I'm always curious about SSK because of the surprises. This year is no exception, but I never thought that someone would say something about getting married at SSK. I'm not sure myself if it was genuine, could be a prank. It'd be a historic and rather shocking first if it were true. I wonder what her fans or general 48family fans feel about this. By the way, here's Mayu's reaction to it: